Course detail
Economy and Ecology of Power Engineering
FEKT-BEEEAcad. year: 2016/2017
The goal of the course is to introduce issues concerning the basics of financial mathematics and ecology in power engineering to students. Knowledge of financial mathematics, costs, depreciation and investment efficiency evaluation form the necessary basis for understanding the links between the economy and power engineering. Similarly, knowledge of the environmental theories, on the effects of noise and ionizing radiation and air pollution form the necessary basis for understanding the relationship between power engineering and ecology.
Due to the innovation of curriculum, this subject was formed from previously separate - seemingly unrelated - subjects. For these historical reasons, the subject is partially taught as two separate issues, but there are efforts applied to interconnect individual chapters of both subjects.
In this course, the focus is on mastering the basics of financial mathematics that are fundamental for all other economic-energy calculations. Knowledge of issues such as interest rates, discounting and time value of money is crucial for understanding as well as successful completion of economic subjects in the master studies. Similarly, it is important to learn the basic rules and principles of ecological thinking and connections between ecology and power engineering.
In this course, emphasis is placed on both the numerical exercises in which students learn various methods of financial techno-environmental calculations, and the exercises and computer laboratories where the series of practical exercises and case studies, contributing to a better understanding of the topic, are solved.
Language of instruction
Number of ECTS credits
Mode of study
Guarantor
Learning outcomes of the course unit
- What is the interest, discount, supplier?
- What is the present value of money?
- What are the methods of evaluating the effectiveness of investments?
- What are depreciations and what is the amortization principle?
- What is the cash flow and what is the cash flow within the company?
- What kinds of costs are known and what are the specifics of power engineering costs?
- What are the basic components of a solid fuel?
- What pollutants come from burning coal?
- What are the causes of noise in power stations and what are the limits of noise?
- How do we define emissions, air pollution and what are their units?
- etc.
Prerequisites
Co-requisites
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures are organized in the form of interpretation and discussion of the issue according to the syllabus.
Seminars and laboratory exercises are used for practical exercises particularly in mathematical skills and topics taught at lectures. The topics are further discussed and debated during seminar classes.
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
- Evaluation of exercises in the form of a credit test.
- Assessment of laboratory exercises where the student complies with assigned tasks.
- Evaluation of the final exam test, which consists of economic and environmental parts.
- Evaluation of student activities. These points are extra credit for voluntary, independent and active solving of tasks and examples, etc. The bonus points are given by the subject teacher and are entirely based on his/her subjective assessment and are his/her responsibility.
The points’ ratio from individual parts of course and the conditions for obtaining credits are specified by the teacher at the beginning of the semester.
Course curriculum
1. Introduction and course organization
2. Fundamentals of economics, basic terms and definitions
3. Basics of Financial Mathematics
4. Structure of costs and profits, expense and revenue flows, depreciation
5. Basic financial reports, profit and loss records and calculations
6. Investment decision-making, evaluation of investment efficiency
7. Emission allowances - principle and trade, ecological footprint - natural capital
8. Basic environmental theory
9. The influence of power generation on the environment
10. Measures taken against air pollution
11. Effect of noise and electrical fields on the environment
12. Effects of ionizing radiation
13. Waste from thermal and nuclear power plants and heating plants
Training in profesional basics:
1. Financial Mathematics
2. Depreciation
3. Financial reports, profit and loss reports, balance sheet, calculations
4. Evaluation of the effectiveness of investments
5. Air Pollution
6. Noise and vibration
7. Non-ionizing and ionizing radiation, magnetic and electric field
8. Water and soil pollution
9. Credit test
Syllabus of computer exercises:
10. The use of software tools to solve problems of financial mathematics
11. Evaluation of the effectiveness of investment and financial analysis of the project
Syllabus of laboratory exercises:
12. Control of indoor air quality and working conditions, noise measurement and electromagnetic field measurement of asynchronous motors and transformers.
13. Vibration measurements on synchronous generators, transformers and other prepared laboratory tasks.
Work placements
Aims
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
Computer exercises and training in profesional basics are optional. Drawing up an individual task or project is mandatory.
Laboratory exercises and completion of all laboratory tasks are mandatory.
Recommended optional programme components
Prerequisites and corequisites
Basic literature
MATOUŠEK, A. Ekologie v elektroenergetice. Brno: Ing.Zdeněk Novotný CSc., 2004. s. 1-94. ISBN: 80-214-2538-5.
Quarq,M.:Ochrana životního prostředí,SNTL Praha
Říha,J.:Úvod do teorie životního prostředí,SNTL Praha
SMÉKALOVÁ, Darina. Finanční a pojistná matematika : pro střední školy s ekonomickým zaměřením. Sazba: Montanex, a.s., Tisk, Tiskárna Tichý , Ostrava - Vítkovice, Obálka: Miloš Kardoš. 1 : Montanex a.s. Výstavní 10, 730 40 Ostrava, 1995. 167 s. ISBN 80-85780-39-9.
Recommended reading
Classification of course in study plans
Type of course unit
Fundamentals seminar
Teacher / Lecturer
Exercise in computer lab
Teacher / Lecturer
Laboratory exercise
Teacher / Lecturer